2015 Fifth-Year Option Decisions

The deadline has passed for teams to officially exercise their 2015 options on players who are in the final year of their rookie contracts, so it’s time to round up the results of those decisions. These fifth-year options could only be exercised on first-round picks, and the salaries were determined by where players were drafted and what position they play.

If a player had his option exercised, his rookie contract will be extended by one year and he’ll be eligible for free agency after the 2015 season. If a player’s option was declined, he’ll be eligible for free agency after the 2014 season. We explained the intricacies of the fifth-year option in a PFR Glossary post last month, so you can read up on the specific details there.

These 2015 option salaries are guaranteed for injury only up until the first day of the 2015 league year, at which point they become fully guaranteed. As such, many teams will exercise the options for now, even if they’re not 100% sure they’ll keep the player, since there isn’t a ton of risk in picking up the option and maintaining as much roster flexibility as possible. Teams and players can also continue to negotiate long-term contracts from this point on.

In the case of some players listed below, teams didn’t officially announce their decisions, which we’ll interpret to mean the clubs didn’t exercise those options — no formal action was required if a club simply chose not to pick up the option.

Here are this season’s fifth-year option decisions:

1. Cam Newton (QB, Panthers), $14.666MM: Exercised
2. Von Miller (LB, Broncos), $9.754MM: Exercised
3. Marcell Dareus (DE, Bills), $8.06MM: Exercised
4. A.J. Green (WR, Bengals), $10.176MM: Exercised
5. Patrick Peterson (CB, Cardinals), $10.081MM: Exercised
6. Julio Jones (WR, Falcons), $10.176MM: Exercised
7. Aldon Smith (LB, 49ers), $9.754MM: Exercised
8. Jake Locker (QB, Titans), $14.666MM: Declined
9. Tyron Smith (OL, Cowboys), $10.039MM: Exercised
10. Blaine Gabbert (QB, 49ers), $14.666MM: Declined
11. J.J. Watt (DE, Texans), $6.969MM: Exercised
12. Christian Ponder (QB, Vikings), $9.686MM: Declined
13. Nick Fairley (DT, Lions), $5.477MM: Declined
14. Robert Quinn (DE, Rams), $6.969MM: Exercised
15. Mike Pouncey (OL, Dolphins), $7.438MM: Exercised
16. Ryan Kerrigan (LB, Redskins), $7.038MM: Excerised
17. Nate Solder (OL, Patriots), $7.438MM: Exercised
18. Corey Liuget (DE, Chargers), $6.969MM: Exercised
19. Prince Amukamara (CB, Giants), $6.898MM: Exercised
20. Adrian Clayborn (DE, Buccaneers), $6.969MM: Declined
21. Phil Taylor (DT, Browns), $5.477MM: Exercised
22. Anthony Castonzo (OL, Colts), $7.438MM: Exercised
23. Danny Watkins (OL, FA): Not applicable due to release
24. Cameron Jordan (DE, Saints), $6.969MM: Exercised
25. James Carpenter (OL, Seahawks), $7.438MM: Declined
26. Jonathan Baldwin (WR, 49ers), $6.776MM: Not applicable due to restructure
27. Jimmy Smith (CB, Ravens), $6.898MM: Exercised
28. Mark Ingram (RB, Saints), $5.211MM: Declined
29. Gabe Carimi (OL, Falcons): Not applicable due to release
30. Muhammad Wilkerson (DE, Jets), $6.969MM: Exercised
31. Cameron Heyward (DE, Steelers), $6.969MM: Exercised
32. Derek Sherrod (OL, Packers), $7.438MM: Declined